Programs
Our Parenting Program for Incarcerated Parents, offered in every California state prison, provides high risk parents the opportunity to provide their children with the best parenting possible. This program provides the skills and motivation to parent effectively from a distance and to reunify successfully with the family, after release.

Case Management Services include assistance for inmates and family members: addressing family issues and providing guidance in preparation for return to the community. Working one-on-one with inmates, our trained and experienced Case Managers provide critical intervention in family emergencies and guidance in dealing with critical parenting issues. Pre-release preparation, transition back to community life, and family reunification are the cornerstones of this program.

Visitor Centers
Friends Outside provides a Visitor Center at each state prison. The primary purpose of the Visitor Center is to “remove barriers to visiting” in order to encourage visits, and thereby support family and community ties. More importantly, visits provide a way for the family to stay connected. Incarcerated parents have the opportunity to support the parent/child relationship, and children have the opportunity to for that very important contact with Mom or Dad. The Visitor Centers are located outside the prison walls, but on grounds. They are usually adjacent to the visitor parking lots, and are clearly identified. These Visitor Centers provide childcare, transportation, information and resources, and a restful and welcoming place to stop for a moment before and after visits. Support is available both before and after visits.

The Family Reunification Project provides liaison between incarcerated parents and social workers, in support of family reunification. Where reunification is not possible, our Case Managers help to identify other kinship ties, assisting the incarcerated parent to participate fully in the process. In this way, we do our part to help children of incarcerated parents find a stable long term home with family members, thereby avoiding costly long term foster home placement.

As stipulated by California law, the Visitor Centers provide the following services:

Children’s Activities: Childcare is available for children over the age of 4 years who accompany their caregiver to the institution for visiting. Sometimes children are not able to sustain a lengthy visit, or they do not have appropriate identification in order to enter the visiting area. In some cases, children may decide that they do not want to visit, but not until after they arrive at the prison. Temporary, short-term childcare is available so that the caregiver can continue their visit. Age-appropriate activities help reduce anxieties and teach coping skills that will last a lifetime.

A sheltered place: Visitors often need a place to rest and renew after a long trip, or to prepare themselves for the trip home after the visit is over. The Visitor Center offers a comfortable, welcoming place of respite. There are restrooms, light refreshments, a place to feed or change babies, and a friendly nonjudgmental staff.

Clothing: Sometimes visitors arrive at the prison dressed inappropriately and not according to the rules for visitor attire. The Visitor Center will loan appropriate clothing for the visit. Clothing available includes attire for men, women and children in a wide range of sizes. 

Transportation: Passenger van transportation between the institution and local public transportation terminals is provided for visitors.

Resources and Information: Sometimes visitors need directions, information about local restaurants or motels, or public transportation schedules. Information is available regarding local business and services, including emergency assistance.

Information regarding visiting rules and regulations:  Rules and regulations related to prison can be confusing.  Visitor Center staff are available to explain regulations and give suggestions as to how visitors can comply. Visitor Centers are open during regularly scheduled visiting hours and on designated holidays.

Fatherhood Program
“The best Dad I can be.”
The Fatherhood Program brings together all Friends Outside programs and services, with an emphasis on responsible fathering. Dads meet in parenting groups and individually with Case Managers to work on parenting skills, relationship issues and life skills that lead to higher employability and better parenting. We believe that every dad can be a great dad.

Friends Outside believes that incarcerated men can have a significant impact on the growth and development of their children. They can nurture and guide their children even though they are separated.  Dads are important in helping to create capable, responsible children and young adults.

Our programs are geared toward meeting the very special needs of these dads, in helping them to meet the very special needs of their families. Emphasis is placed on understanding and accepting their responsibilities, and strengthening the father-child bond

Parenting Education for Incarcerated Parents: 
Dads are taught child development, health and safety, nutrition, and techniques of parent-child communications.  They are shown ways to provide guidance in place of punishment and how to provide discipline that encourages good behavior.  Family relationship skills are taught and practiced.  Most importantly, dads are encouraged to maintain contact with their children and their children’s mother, in preparation for maintaining a meaningful relationship after release.

Read To Me:
Dads are encouraged to read to their preschoolers during visits, with books provided by Friends Outside. They are taught the importance of encouraging pre-literacy skills and school readiness, and shown ways that reading books together can strengthen the father-child relationship.  Dad and child pick out a book together, and after the visit the child takes the book home.

Creative Conflict Resolutions:
These interactive, intensive workshops support dads as they learn appropriate ways to deal with frustration and anger.  They learn appropriate ways to handle conflict, at home and in the workplace, and are encouraged to pass along what they have learned to their children. 

ChildSafe:
Fathers, even when they are incarcerated, can provide the responsible parenting that is necessary to help keep their children safe and well.  This new Friends Outside program uses information regarding child health and safety to motivate dads to become more responsible for the wellbeing of their children.

Case Management Services:
Friends Outside case management services inside each institution work with dads individually on important issues involving parenting, resolving crisis, goal-setting, and preparation for release.
Case management includes programs that are complementary and mutually reinforcing.